 |
View updates as a PDF file. In order to view PDF files, Acrobat Reader should be installed on your computer 
| Colds |
34 |
Introduction |
The Paediatric Medicines Expert Advisory Group and the Commission on Human Medicines advise that preparations containing ephedrine, oxymetazoline, phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine and xylometazoline should no longer be used in children under the age of two. However, manufacturers already advise that no cold preparation containing these constituents should be used for young children. |
Mar 08 |
| Cough |
79 |
Introduction |
The Paediatric Medicines Expert Advisory Group and the Commission on Human Medicines advise that cough preparations containing brompheniramine, chlorphenamine, dextrometorphan, diphenhydramine, guaifenesin, ipecacuanha, or pholcodine should not be used in children under 2 years. The pharmaceutical industry agreed to change labelling on products to remove dosage instructions for children under 2, and add additional instructions in relation to children aged 2-6 years. |
Mar 08 |
| Cough |
88 |
Theophylline |
Do-Do Chesteze tablets discontinued |
Mar 08 |
| Head lice |
210 |
Efficacy and resistance |
A two assessor-blind, randomised, controlled, parallel group, clinical trial of two preparations with a recommended application time of 10 minutes (isopropyl myristate/cyclimethicone solution [Full Marks Solution] and permethrin 1% crème rinse [Lyclear Crème Rinse])1, found the former to have a much higher cure rate (82% vs 19%). It was also claimed that the Full Marks Solution, because of its physical action, should not be affected by resistance to neurotoxic insecticides.
(1Burgess IF, Lee PN, Brown CM. Randomised, controlled, parallel group clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of isopropyl myristate/cyclomethicone solution against head lice. Pharm J 2008; 280: 371–375.) |
Mar 08 |
| Pain |
321 |
(New subsection)
Naproxen for dysmenorrhoea |
Naproxen is an NSAID. It is considered more potent than ibuprofen with a low incidence of side-effects, although higher than ibuprofen. In April 2008 naproxen 250mg tablets were reclassified from POM to P status for the treatment of dysmenorrhoea. Licensing restrictions include:
- use only for females between 15 and 50 years of age
- maximum dosage: three tablets daily for a maximum of three days
- pack size: 9 tablets
Other cautions, contraindications and interactions as for ibuprofen.
A comparative study of five clinical trials1 found that naproxen provided greater pain relief in dysmenorrhoea than paracetamol or ibuprofen, with no reports of serious side-effects.
Product: Feminax Ultra. Bayer Healthcare.
(1Milsom I, Minic M, Dawood MY, et al. Comparison of the efficacy and safety of nonprescription doses of naproxen and naproxen sodium with ibuprofen, acetaminophen and placebo in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea: a pooled analysis of five studies. Clinical Therapeutics 2002; 24: 1384–1400.)
|
Apr 08 |
|
|
|
|
Choose Location